re. Fraser Valley Bird Checklist

[birder1942]

Hi Gord. Does the Fraser valley checklist area include the whole of Manning Park?
Also, I noticed you do not list Black-necked Stilt. I had one in Willband Creek Park in Abbotsford on May 16, 2001. This was at around the same time when a number of these birds showed up in BC (the suggestion being a drought period further south).
For instance, two of these birds were found along 152nd street near 40th ave in South Surrey, on May 6, which were seen by a number of birders, including me. John Vooys, Abbotsford.

[Gord]

Hi John. The entire checklist area does include all of Manning Park. Originally, it was to encompass the Fraser Valley Regional District but the boundary falls about halfway into Manning Park so it was just extended for simplicity's sake.

There is also a checklist for just the Fraser Valley from Abbotsford to Hope. As we're sort of on the transition zone for birds between the coast and interior, the further east and northeast we go, the more dramatic the change (ie Nashville Warbler and Veery would be considered at least 'fairly common' and annual breeders in Boston Bar while the Nashville around here would be an uncommon to rare migrant and the Veery is yet to be detected)

I have included your excellent record of the stilt. That is the first record I am aware of for the checklist area. Very nice! Interesting how there were several around at the same time.

On a similar note, I was talking to someone from the coast and there are two Western Scrub Jays in the Vancouver area in addition to the one here in Chilliwack. That makes three which is fairly significant. I was chatting with Cliff and he was relating how a group of birders from Seattle were commenting at how many Western Scrub Jays were in the area. This species is moving north and I would expect we will be encountering them more often if the apparent trend continues.

The two checklists can be found from the link below. Click to download a copy in .pdf format. They are best viewed at about 200% enlargement. A little bit of distortion occurs when the excel file used to create the checklist is converted into a .pdf. If there are any questions, please let me or Chris know.

www.fraservalleybirding.com/Maps%20and%20Checklists/Seasonal%20Status.htm